PTSD After Childbirth...

Do you have flashbacks or nightmares about your baby’s birth? Do avoid your baby because he/she reminds you of your traumatic experience? Are you having fantasies about hurting the baby, or yourself? Do you have difficulty concentrating? Are you unusually irritable, angry or depressed? Then you may have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from your childbirth experience. But you are not alone! What you are going through is real, and there is hope for healing. Don’t give up!

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Study is first to show improved outcomes with postpartum depression screening and care

Studies have shown that maternal postpartum depression (PPD) affects one in every 5 to 6 postpartum women, but is often undetected and if recognized, undertreated. A new practice-based research network study compared a system of screening, supported diagnosis, and PPD management within family medicine practices to usual care. The new approach significantly increased rates of PPD recognition, treatment, and fewer depressive symptoms at 12 months.
The researchers randomly assigned 14 family medicine practices to usual care and 14 to the intervention. Intervention practices received education and tools for postpartum depression screening, diagnosis, and therapy initiation, and care systems to encourage patient followup, which occurred within each practice. Usual-care practices received a 30-minute presentation about postpartum depression.
Of the 2,343 women enrolled shortly after giving birth, 1,897 (80.1 percent) provided outcome information and were included in the analysis. They were mailed packets that included two depression screening tools (the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9), plus assessments related to parenting and partner relationships to complete and return to the central site at intake (baseline), 6 months, and 12 months later. Elevated screening scores, indicating high risk for depression, were noted for 34.5 percent (654) of women—255 at usual care practices and 399 at intervention practices. Baseline PHQ-9 scores consistent with moderate to severe depression were found for 5.1 percent of usual-care women and 5.6 percent of intervention women.
At the end of 12-months followup, intervention group women were significantly more likely to receive a diagnosis and therapy for postpartum depression. Also, women in the intervention group with initially elevated depression scores were 74 percent more likely to show a clinically significant drop in depression compared with those from the usual-care group. Worthy of note is the modest amount of additional time required in the intervention practices. The study was funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (HS14774).
More details are in "TRIPPD: A practice-based network effectiveness study of postpartum depression screening and management," by Barbara P. Yawn, MD, M.Sc., Allen J. Dietrich, MD, Peter Wollan, PhD, and others in the July/August 2012 Annals of Family Medicine 10(4), pp. 320-329.

As you travelled with us to Uganda last week, some of you asked, “How can we help?” Wouldn’t you know it, as soon as you asked, the answer popped into our inbox. We’ve been invited to join the Mozilla Firefox challenge! Mozilla Firefox is giving away $50,000 to the fundraiser that raises the most money, $30,000 to the one that wins the second most, and $20,000 to the one that receives the third most. You know we love a good challenge and with your help Every Mother Counts could win this challenge for moms! We’re putting our money where our mouth is too: Every Mother Counts will match the first $10,000 raised. In addition, four lucky contributors will win one of the following prizes:
◦ A signed Starbucks EMC CD
◦ A signed “No Woman No Cry” DVD
◦ Oiselle EMC t-shirt
◦ ErgoBaby EMC bag
Now, I know we ask for a lot from you guys and you’ve always stepped up and been champions. Why should you donate to this project?

Because we’re your favorite charity

Because it’s an early gift-giving opportunity and a way of getting a jumpstart on Giving Tuesday - next week’s big international response to Black Friday and Cyber Monday that promotes giving gifts of support to non-profit organizations in lieu of things like holiday sweaters and snowglobes.

Because it’s a bargain. For $22, your donation can purchase a “Mama kit” for a mother in Uganda. When mothers arrive at a birth center in labor ready to have their babies, this kit guarantees that the supplies needed to ensure a safe delivery are there. A Mama kit includes basic essential supplies women need to deliver safely. As an extra bonus, a Mama Kit comes with a baby kit that includes a clean blanket to wrap baby in. Here’s what a mama kit includes:

-Soap

-Cotton and gauze

-Plastic sheet (for labor)

-Disposable gloves

-Surgical gloves

-Surgical blade

-Cord ligatures

-Tetracycline eye ointment

-Baby blanket and sheets

-Child health card

-Polythene bag to hold medical records

Because this challenge goes through January 10th, just in case there's anyone you still need to give a gift to after the holidays

Because you’re as committed as we are to using every opportunity possible to make Every Mother Count and make it safe for mothers around the world to give life.

Saturday, December 22, 2012

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 21, 2012 -- Michael J. Fitzpatrick , executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has issued the following statement:
"The National Rifle Association (NRA) response to last week's tragedy in
Newtown Connecticut -- in which 20 children and six adults at Sandy
Hook Elementary School were killed -- is outrageous and wrong.
The NRA has called for putting more guns in schools and creating a bigger list of people treated for mental illness
-- which presumably includes civic leaders, teachers who take
prescriptions for anxiety or depression, police, fire fighters and
veterans returning home from Afghanistan.
The NRA posed the question 'How many more copycats are waiting…A dozen more killers? A hundred? More? How can we possibly even guess how many, given our nation's refusal to create an active national database of the mentally ill?'
One in four American adults experience a mental health problem in any given year, yet the U.S. Surgeon General
determined over a decade ago that 'the overall contribution of mental
disorders to the total level of violence in society is exceptionally
small.'
Law already exists requiring states to report the names of people 'adjudicated as mentally defective' to the National Instant Background Check System (NICS).
It has never been properly implemented because of confusion surrounding
the highly stigmatizing term "mentally defective" and the uncertain
meaning of 'adjudicated.'
After the Virginia Tech tragedy in 2007, NAMI recommended
that Congress clean up existing law by adopting standards consistent
with modern medical knowledge and clear legal procedures. We continue to
support that approach.
When violence occurs, it is usually because something has gone terribly wrong in the mental health care system.
We must address the fact that less than a third of Americans who have a
diagnosable mental illness are able to get treatment. The NRA's proposal
to create a bigger "active" national database will only discourage
people reaching out for help. Stigma will be imposed. Stigma will be
internalized. Stigma will turn into prejudice and discrimination.
NAMI condemns the NRA position. We hope the NRA instead will join others
in seeking positive, workable, appropriate solutions. NAMI stands ready
to work with the President, Congress and states to accomplish that end."

My Comment:

I completely agree with NAMI. Having a national data base for the Mentally Ill opens up discrimination against those who truly struggle but are not violent. Are we to have segregation all over again? Not with African Americans, but with those who have mental health issues. They might as well make us sew a giant "M" to our chest so "normal" people can see us coming and step to the left on the sidewalk because we might kill them. Should we have a national data base for Muslims because some of them are terrorists? Should we have a national data base of white men because some of them are serial killers? Should we have a national data base for African Americans because some of them are in gangs? It's completely ridiculous. The children of the Sandy Hook tragedy may grow up with symptoms of trauma... Are we to put them in the data base as well, when they are the very children that we hope to protect? Think about what you are suggesting NRA... It will only bring more discrimination and fear of those with mental health issues. Besides, if someone really wanted to get a gun and was blocked from getting one through normal channels, nothing is stopping them from getting one off the street. Then they can kill whomever they want, and no one would have any control over it. Think before you speak NRA.

Abstract

Background

There
is evidence that traumatic birth experiences are associated with
psychological impairments. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence
of childbirth-related post-traumatic stress symptoms and its obstetric
and perinatal risk factors among a sample of Iranian women.

Methods

This
was a cross-sectional study carried out in Bushehr, Iran during a
3-months period from July to September 2009. Data were collected from
all women attending eleven healthcare centers for postnatal care 6 to 8
weeks after childbirth. Those who had a traumatic delivery were
identified and entered into the study. In order to assess
childbirth-related post-traumatic stress, the Post-traumatic Symptom
Scale-Interview (PSS-I) was administered. Data on demographic, obstetric
and perinatal characteristics also were collected. Multivariate
logistic regression was performed to examine the association between
childbirth-related post-traumatic stress and demographic and obstetric
and perinatal variables.

Results

In
all, 400 women were initially evaluated. Of these, 218 women (54.5%)
had a traumatic delivery and overall, 80 women (20%) were found to be
suffering from post-partum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that post-partum PTSD was
associated with educational level, gestational age at delivery, number
of prenatal care visits, pregnancy complications, pregnancy intervals,
labor duration, and mode of delivery.

Conclusions

The
findings indicated that the prevalence of traumatic birth experiences
and post-partum PTSD were relatively high among Iranian women. The
findings also indicated that obstetric and perinatal variables were
independently the most significant contributing factors to women’s
post-partum PTSD. It seems that a better perinatal care and supportive
childbirth might help to reduce the burden of post-partum PTSD among
this population.

In this time of national mourning for the victims of the Sandy Hook Tragedy, my heart goes out to the families of those who were senselessly and brutally murdered on December 14, 2012. Needless to say the children and school staff who witnessed this horrifying act of violence may deal with symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder in the coming weeks and months. My heart goes out to them as they may have nightmares and flashbacks of the event. I pray for them and pray that they are not ashamed to ask for help with their feelings. Please hug your children and thank God for them and that they are safe.

Dr Phil featured survivors from the Sandy Hook tragedy on his program on December 17, 2012, http://drphil.com/shows/show/1941. He stresses the importance of talking about what happened and how you feel about the events of that day.

This is from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA):

The
recent shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown,
Connecticut, continues to bring out strong emotions across the Nation.
The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990,
can provide immediate counseling to anyone who needs help in dealing
with the many issues and problems that might arise from this tragedy.

Sponsored
by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA), the Helpline immediately connects callers to trained and
caring professionals from the closest crisis counseling center in the
nationwide network of centers. Helpline staff will provide confidential
counseling, referrals, and other needed support services.

The
Disaster Distress Helpline is a 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week national
hotline dedicated to providing disaster crisis counseling. The toll-free
Helpline is confidential and multilingual, and available for those who
are experiencing psychological distress as a result of natural or
man-made disasters, incidents of mass violence, or any other tragedy
affecting America's communities.

Our texting service also is available to Spanish speakers. Text "Hablanos" to 66746 for 24/7 emotional support.

Friday, July 22, 2011

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------> From: Mehwish Ansari <intern17@madre.org>> Date: Fri, Jul 8, 2011 at 3:07 PM> Subject: Help Us Send Much Needed Supplies! > To: info@motherfriendly.org> > > Dear Coalition for Improving Maternity Services:> I am writing to you on behalf of MADRE. MADRE, an international women's human rights organization, seeks to advance these rights by meeting urgent needs in communities and partnering with women to create long-term solutions for the crises they face. > > MADRE's sister organization, Midwives for Peace, is a group of Palestinian and Israeli midwives who have come together to provide in-home deliveries for pregnant women in the West Bank and Israel. This group offers a safe alternative for women in labor who do not have easy access to hospital care. We have the opportunity to send urgently needed supplies through a volunteer next week. A list of these supplies is below. We would love to speak to you about what you may be able to donate or any relationships you may have. > These supplies will be used to create "safe birthing" kits used by the midwives during delivery. Any of the items you can provide would be greatly appreciated. The kit includes:> > Hydrogen peroxide > Topical alcohol and alcohol prep pads> Obstetric gel> Scissors> Umbilical cord clamps> Syringe bulbs> Sterile cotton balls> Sterile medical masks> Sterile gauze> Sterile bed liners > Sterile Latex gloves> Sterile baby blankets and towels> Prenatal vitamins and supplements> Physio balls for comfortable delivery> Maternity care reading material and birthing books> MADRE is located in New York City. You may mail your donation to: > > MADRE> Attn: Helping Hands> 121 West 27th Street Suite 301> New York, NY 10001> > Alternatively, you may drop off your donation at the address above during our business hours, 9:30 am – 6:00 pm. > > Thank you very much! As you know, these supplies are truly life-saving to mothers and babies.> > I hope to hear from you soon!> > -- > Mehwish Ansari | Helping Hands Intern > MADRE: Rights, Resources, and Results for Women Worldwide> 121 West 27th Street, #301 | New York, NY 10001> tel. 212-627-0444 | fax. 212-675-3704> www.madre.org

Monday, July 18, 2011

Depending on your email program, you may be able to click on the link in the email. Alternatively, you may have to open a web browser, such as Firefox or Internet Explorer, and copy the link over into the address bar.

Nineteen years ago I ? and my baby ? almost died. I was 29 weeks pregnant at the time. The baby was my first, and all seemed well. Then a visit to an antenatal clinic changed everything. My blood pressure was high; there was protein in my urine. I was sent to hospital; admitted immediately; and by dawn the next morning, I'd had a Caesarean section and had a tiny (2lbs 13oz) daughter, who was fighting for her life in special care.

Janus is offering a $20,000 charity prize purse to be divided between five charities based on the number of votes each receives by 5pm central time on October 1st. Make your voice heard by CLICKING HEREto cast your vote today.

After clicking on one of the red "Vote Here" links, please look for our name on the ballot and vote for us. It will look like:

Jenny’s Light, supported by BECKY LAVELLERaises awareness and understanding of perinatal mood disorders, such as postpartum depression, both for women and families, and the providers that treat them.

Those who are serious about the sport of triathlon, compete. Those who are passionate about it, compete to win. The Life Time Triathlon Series Race to the Toyota Cup attracts some of the best and most competitive triathletes in the field. But there’s more to this competition than most people know. This year, five professional triathletes racing to the Toyota Cup will be motivated by more than just a place on the podium. They’ll be racing for a charitable cause they feel deeply about and a chance to further that cause.

As ambassadors of the sport and champions for charity, these pro triathletes have been invited by Janus, a Denver-based global investment company, to compete for a special $20,000 charitable prize purse. Introduced this year as part of the Janus Charity Challenge, Janus’ successful charitable fundraising program, this competition is unique in that it is the voice and choice of the people that determines which pro and which charity wins.

Appropriately billed the Janus Charity Challenge People’s Choice Awards, this contest is a test of altruism, not athleticism. Here’s how it works:

• Each of Janus’ Pro Athlete Partners has identified the charity they are most passionate about.

• Anyone and everyone can vote for the athlete or charity that inspires them most.

• The $20,000 charity prize purse will be divided among all charities based on the number of votes each athlete/charity receives by October 1st, the day before the Toyota U.S. Open Triathlon in Dallas.

We currently have over 7,800 members of our Jenny's Light "Cause Page" and have raised over $30,000!

Special thanks to everyone who has donated on Facebook as well as those who've raised money through the Facebook birthday fundraising application. If you have a Facebook profile, please join our cause, set-up your own birthday fundraiser and help us grow by recruiting your friends!

Thank you for your support!!!!

Jenny's Light is on Twitter. Sign-up today to follow our weekly (and sometimes more) "tweets". It's easy and free to join. This is just another way we are trying to reach out to as many people as possible with our message. Click here to get started.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

But as the couple enjoyed their first minutes as a family, Katy began to feelcold and shaky. Barry told medical staff he was worried about the amount ofblood she was losing as Katy's lips went blue and she lapsed intosemi-consciousness.Katy said: "Then I had a seizure and they had to getthecrash team in. Up until that point, I was thinking I was over theworst."Later, surgeons explained they'd removed a large clot from Katy'suterus and blood transfusions had saved her life.She was later diagnosedwith post-traumatic stress syndrome and the family decided to move home toScotland last Christmas.Today, with the help of counselling, Katy hasputthe trauma behind her and remarkably has not ruled out having anotherbaby.She said: "If you'd asked me in the few months after Corrie wasborn,I'd have told you even the thought of having another baby terrifiedme...

News Release

Today, on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Day, we recognize the millions of Americans who suffer from this debilitating condition. PTSD affects a wide range of people, from new mothers to our country's service men and women.

PTSD affects about 5.2 million adult Americans, but women are more likely than men to develop it. PTSD occurs after an individual experiences a terrifying event such as an accident, an attack, military combat, or a natural disaster. Some people recover a few months after the event, but other people will suffer lasting or chronic PTSD.

HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers a variety of resources to help people who suffer from PTSD and to help their families and friends better understand and deal with trauma and its aftermath.

We have a responsibility to help Americans who have lived through trauma, especially our nation's service men and women who may be dealing with PTSD. We owe them the care and resources they need to get well.

One of our key programs is our partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide military veterans and service members, along with their families, assistance with the effects of PTSD through the confidential toll-free Veterans Crisis Hotline, a service that also offers support through a confidential one-on-one online chat service.

Also, as part of the Affordable Care Act, we are partnering with the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to share our best ideas on how to promote prevention and improve the quality of health care for veterans and all Americans.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Ina May Gaskin started delivering babies in 1970 while on a hippie cross-country trip known as the caravan. She had no medical training, just a master's degree in English and a gut feeling that women deserved kinder, gentler births. When the hundreds of caravaners settled in Tennessee on what they called the Farm, Gaskin and several other women began delivering the community's babies at home and also opened one of the first, nonhospital birthing centers in the country. Word got around when Gaskin wrote about her successes in Spiritual Midwifery, and a movement was born.

Today, women still travel far and wide to give birth on the Farm, and Gaskin's methods have the respect of clinicians around the world (there is even an obstetric maneuver named after her). Now 71, she is credited with reviving what was essentially a dead profession in the U.S., inspiring scores of women to enter the field and helping found the Midwives Alliance of North America. But even while midwives attend more births in the U.S. — about 7.5% in 2008 — they're finding it increasingly hard to get practice agreements with doctors and hospitals. In her latest book, Birth Matters: A Midwife's Manifesta (Seven Stories, April 2011), Gaskin argues that America needs midwives more than ever.

One World Birth is more than just a one-off film, it is an ongoing "living"documentary that keeps its finger firmly on the pulse of what is happeningwith birth all around the world.

Most importantly, however, it is a growing online community of birthprofessionals and all those who have a deep passion for birth. All with onegoal in mind: to make birth better and safer for all women around the world.

Therefore, if the trailer appeals to you, please could you forward the linkto anyone else that you think would be interested so that this community cankeep growing.

The health of mothers, infants, and children is of critical importance, bothas a reflection of the current health status of a large segment of the U.S.population and as a predictor of the health of the next generation. HP 2010

Sunday, May 15, 2011

The Secret Suffering: How Trauma Affects the Brain

Michele Rosenthal joins Seaview Radio with her new show "Your Life After Trauma" Thursday nights at 7- 8PM EST.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – May 13, 2011 – Michele Rosenthal, a mental health advocate, public speaker, award-winning blogger, writer, workshop/seminar leader, coach and Founder of Heal My PTSD brings her expertise to the airwaves on Seaview Radio on Thursday nights 7-8pm EST with a new radio show, "Your Life After Trauma".

For so many who suffer in silence there is now a radio program (the first in the market) that addresses and offers assistance for survivors of trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD causes range from natural disasters to terrorism, war, medical dramas, domestic violence, sexual and child abuse. The PTSD survivor crowd is large, diverse, global and always growing.

Michele Rosenthal's first show airs live on May 12, 2011 on 95.9FM, 106.9FM, 960AM and online at www.seaviewradio.com with the topic "How Trauma Affects The Brain". Michele will have two well respected experts as her guests: Rachel Yehuda, PhD, and Dave Ziegler, Ph.D., L.M.F.T., L.P.C. (additional information below) .

Chet Tart, General Manager of Seaview Radio states, "We are so pleased to have Michele Rosenthal joining the Seaview family. With so many servicemen returning with PTSD, plus those who have endured trauma, it is heartwarming to know they will now have a program where they can find comfort and solutions for living with this debilitating disorder."

Since Michele Rosenthal struggled with PTSD she is the ideal candidate to address issues related to trauma and symptoms of posttraumatic stress. More information on Michele and her efforts can be found at www.healmyptsd.com.

We hope you will help in spreading the word about this wonderful show so that those who suffer with PTSD will no longer have to suffer in silence. Interviews with Michele Rosenthal can be arranged by calling 561-502-8194.

Rachel Yehuda, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, is the Director of the Traumatic Stress Studies Division at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine which includes the PTSD clinical research program and the Neurochemistry and Neuroendocrinology laboratory at the James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Dr. Yehuda is a recognized leader in the field of traumatic stress studies. She has authored more than 250 published papers, chapters, and books in the field of traumatic stress and the neurobiology of PTSD, including PSYCHOBIOLOGY OF PTSD. Her current interests include the study of risk and resilience factors, psychological and biological predictors of treatment response in PTSD, genetic and epigenetic studies of PTSD and the intergenerational transmission of trauma and PTSD. She has an active federally-funded clinical and research program that welcomes local and international students and clinicians.

Dr. Yehuda's research on cortisol and brain function has revolutionized the understanding and treatment of PTSD worldwide and has been awarded the renowned Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry (Munich, Germany) 2004 Guest Professorship. The appointment signifies a special recognition of the outstanding research she has been performing in the field of neuroscience in the context of studies on causality of psychiatric disorders over the years.

Dr. Yehuda received her PhD in Psychology and Neurochemistry and her MS in Biological -1888248032 Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and completed her postdoctoral training in Biological Psychiatry in the Psychiatry Department at Yale Medical School.

Dave Ziegler, Ph.D., L.M.F.T., L.P.C., Licensed Psychologist, Executive Director, Founder, Jasper Mountain, an organizaton whose mission is to bring hope and healing to traumatized children and their familiars. With a 37 year career as a therapist, clinical supervisor, foster parent and program manager, Dr. Ziegler is also the author of multiple books and publications, including TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE AND THE BRAIN. He is an international authority and presenter on issues related to trauma and psychological treatment.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

The Relationship Research Institute is offering a new educationalopportunity for birth educators, ARNPs, MDs, nurses, psychologists, socialworkers, licensed counselors, doulas, midwives, students, and otherprofessionals who work with expectant couples and new parents.

In this powerful new workshop series, health care workers and educators willhave the chance to learn about the latest scientific findings on whatfamilies experience during the transition to parenthood and how they can use this research-based information to support the couples and families theywork with.

This two-day event will be held on Saturday June 11th and Sunday June 12th ,2011, in Seattle, Washington. Saturday's full-day workshop will be held atSwedish Medical Center and will focus on "Research-Based Educational Strategies to Help Couples During the Transition to Parenthood". The Sundaymorning breakfast will be held at the World Trade Center Seattle and willfeature Penny Simkin, who will talk about "Bringing Home the Healthiest Baby and Mother Possible--The Impact of Birth and Postpartum Practices".

Health care workers and educators may attend either or both days! The full

two-day program has been approved for 10 credits through the InternationalChildbirth Education Association (ICEA) for birth educators, and for 9.25credits for Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselors, and MFTs in Washington and Oregon states through R. Cassidy Seminars.

Date

Additional Date Information

Address

Jones Beach State Park - Long Island Field 5: scenic boardwalk course along the Atlantic Ocean

Fees

Adults - $25Ages 18 & under - $15*Please note there will be an additional $3 charge for day of event registration

Brief Description

Join us to celebrate mothers, fathers, and families! Sounds of Silence, Friends of the Postpartum Resource Center of New York invite you to participate in our 4th Annual Run/Walk to raise funds and awareness for pregnancy and postpartum depression - Help Break the Silence! This event will take place May 21st 201 at Jones Beach State Park, Long Island, New York. All proceeds contributed benefit the Postpartum Resource Center of New York www.postpartumny.org

Team Captains

To create and join a team, Team Captains first need to create the team by clicking on the yellow Create Your Team button above. Once the team is created, please go back and click the Register Now button and register for the event and select your team name from the drop down box on the registration form.

Team Members

To join your team click on the Register Now button and register for the event. You will select your team name from the drop down box on the registration form near the top.

Individuals

Click on the Register Now button and register for the event. You will not be asked for team information during registration.

Additional Information

Please note all are encouraged to attend, however due to insurance regulations no strollers will be permitted on the race course. Sanctioned 5k race by USA Track & Field Long Island Awards and Prizes: Top overall male, female, and under 18 runners, top fundraiser. Top male and female recognition in specified age groups. Commemorative t-shirts for first 250 runners. Post-race refreshments and snacks donated by various national and local companies such as the Babylon Village Meat Market and Sherry's The Healthy Gourmet Store. RAFFLES: Designer products, gift certificates and more. Participants need to be present to win. Race Timing and Setup: Finish Line, Road Race Technicians, Inc. David Katz http://flrrt.com/ Sounds of Silence, Friends of the Postpartum Resource Center of New York, Inc. thank you in advance for your contribution to support a worthy cause.

Friday, May 13, 2011

It's International Midwives Day! And, what better way to honor midwives(and Mothers, too) than by signing

*The Big Push for Midwives Campaign's Petition to ACOG*

The Big Push Steering Committee is delighted to announce that we havecreated a Petition to be sent to ACOG to demand that they end their war onmidwives and out-of-hospital birth. We have been working with our friends at

Change.org to develop the Petition. The best part is that every timesomeone signs the petition, ACOG gets an email message. So, everyone, comejoin us. Please go to this link to read and sign our petition:

This book aims to analyse the intersecting territories of mothering and psychoanalysis from feminist, sociological and psychoanalytic/psychotherapeutic perspectives. Not since Nancy Chodorow's The Reproduction of Mothering has there been a sustained analysis of mothering from this three-fold perspective. This book seeks to analyse mothering and psychoanalytic/therapeutic theory and practice from within any (or all) of these perspectives. In particular, while there has been much psychoanalytic focus on mothers and mothering, there has been less focus on psychoanalysis from the perspective of mothers or as a form of mothering. As Chodorow said in her forward to the new edition of The Reproduction of Mothering (1999), at the time of writing, hers was the daughter's perspective, however, her own development has led her to be sceptical about some of her claims. How does the mother's perspective shift psychoanalytic theory? What is the position of the mother in psychoanalytic theory and practice?Motherhood studies is a new research area that privileges the theoretical, experiential and ontological vantage point of mothers (O'Reilly, 2010). This volume seeks submissions that draw on this perspective to engage a two-way discussion with psychoanalysis also drawing on clinical, feminist, critical theory and sociological perspectives. In addition to the psychoanalytic analysis of mothering, the editor encourages submissions that examine how psychoanalysis - and psychotherapy generally - constitutes a form of commodified care in the global economy potentially working to fill what Arlie Hochschild has memorably called the 'care deficit' (2003). Is care transmuting into the commercial domain? And, if so, what is the gendered composition of this care? How does the emergence of 'therapy culture' (Furedi, 2004), seen as the domain of self-exploration, compete with biomedical models of mental health and illness? If psychoanalysis is, as Freud said, 'a cure through love' then how is the 'emotion work' of the therapist analogous to mothering?Selected topics may include but are not limited to:Psychoanalytic analyses of mothers, mothering and motherhood; sociological analyses of 'therapy culture' and the feminisation of care work, including psychotherapy; the commercialisation of intimacy; psychoanalysis/psychotherapy as a form of mothering; maternal perspectives on psychoanalytic theory and practice; psychoanalytic mothers including Helene Deutsche, Karen Horney, Melanie Klein, Anna Freud and more recent thinkers such as Nancy Chodorow, Jessica Benjamin, Nancy McWilliams, Luce Irigaray and Julia Kristeva; Freud's relation to his own mother; clinical case studies of mothers; the 'good enough mother' (Winnicot); the 'bad', or pathologised mother; the mother-child bond and its relation to mental health and illness; attachment theory and therapy including the work of John Bowlby, Mary Ainsworth, and Peter Fonagy; infant observation research; the transference relationship; 'transference love'; object relations theory.

Submission Guidelines:Abstracts should be 250 words. Please also include a brief biography (50 words).Deadline for abstracts June 1, 2011Accepted papers of 4000-5000 words (15-20 pages) will be due Dec 1, 2011 and should conform to MLA style Please send submissions directly to:Petra Büskens: petra@ppmdtherapy.com

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Research on taking antidepressants during pregnancy has been mixed, with some studies showing a small risk and others showing no harm to the baby. Untreated depression is also a risk during pregnancy. So which is worse, having depression during pregnancy, or taking medication for it?

Echoes from the Womb:

Applications for Lifelong Well-Being

16th International Congress

November 17 - 20, 2011

San Francisco, California

This year's congress will be held in beautiful San Francisco at the Kabuki Hotel in Japan Town.

Be inspired by individuals who are making a difference in our field of prenatal and perinatal psychology. We will have new and exciting speakers including:

Annie Murphy Paul, author of the popular book on fetal life ORIGINS: How The Nine Months Before Birth Shape The Rest of Your Life

Bruce Lipton, internationally acclaimed author and speaker who connects the biology and the psychology of the brain, the cells and the psychology of human development. Bruce will also offer a one-day workshop on Thursday.

Join us in San Francisco at the zen-like serenity offered at the Kabuki surrounded with a vibrant international community of restaurants, shops, cherry trees and tea shops. A perfect space to come together in networking, meeting and listening and sharing.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

We aim to help support mothers and their partners and families process,integrate and heal from traumatic childbirth experiences. Trauma is in theeye of the beholder, and any birth experience perceived as traumatic is welcome here.

We respect the sensitivity and privacy of participants and expect allparticipants to do the same.

While this group is facilitated by a leader that may be a mental healthspecialist the group is a peer-oriented support model, no formal counselingby professionals is offered at this group. However, referrals to professional providers for additional support, if needed, will be madeavailable.

There is a suggested donation to cover group costs, though this group isfree and open to all income levels.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

After a traumatic Caesarean section birth three years ago Magan Hall of Rosebank in Cape Town could not imagine herself going through another childbirth.

Her disappointment at not giving birth naturally to her daughter Holly, now three, left her feeling powerless and to a certain extent like a “failure”.

“I was so looking forward to having a natural birth and I went through 16 hours of labour thinking that eventually the baby would come down. When the midwife told me that I was going for an emergency C-section as the baby wasn’t coming down, I felt so aggrieved. I was so disappointed with how things turned out that I constantly blamed myself for everything. The experience left me with this fear of giving birth,” she said.

But after much contemplation, Hall decided to try for a second baby. This time, however, she wasn’t going to let her first birthing experience get the better of her.

She started doing research on birthing options, having decided that a C-section would not be an option.

After a visit to her midwife she was advised to try hypnobirthing. It was the first time that she heard of this birthing method, but decided to give it a go.

“I remember attending my first class and thinking how will this help me give birth naturally? Because of my bad experience with my first birth I had become very sceptical of everything,” she said.

Little did she know she was in it for the long haul. She attended the full antenatal course and used the techniques in

November last year when she successfully gave birth naturally to her son Huw within two hours of going into labour.

While Hall feels the second birth was probably just nature taking its course, or plain luck,she feels she was helped by the techniques she learnt through hypnobirthing.

Hypnobirthing is described as a childbirth method that uses self-hypnosis to help expectant mothers manage the tension caused by fear and anxiety during labour, through visualisation and relaxation.

It uses different breathing techniques to help the body reach a deep, relaxed state similar to “daydreaming”, thereby allowing the expectant mother to manage her labour pains. The techniques are also taught to birthing companions, who learn to help the mother reach deeper levels of relaxation.

Still a relatively new method in South Africa, hypnobirthing was developed in the US by Marie Morgan, a hypnotherapist who said she uses self-hypnosis on pregnant women to help their body’s muscles work the way they should during childbirth.

Today it is widely used in countries such as the US and UK, with available research suggesting that it can reduce the standard first labour from 12 hour to eight hours.

According to Kim Young, a hypnobirthing childbirth educator in Cape Town, the “horror stories” that pregnant women are told by friends, family, and other sources, including the media, about childbirth has resulted in many being scared of giving birth even though many are physically capable of giving birth comfortably.

Young, the only hypnobirthing instructor in the city and one of five in the country, said many women “failed to enjoy the experience of giving birth, (and) instead get so overwhelmed with fear”.

”The body’s response to fear is to release adrenaline. This causes the muscles to tighten, therefore diverting the oxygenated blood from the uterus, where it’s needed the most, to the major survival organs such as legs and arms to prepare them to run. This causes muscles that help with the birthing of a baby to work against each other and cause pain. The release of lactic acid due to the lack of oxygenated blood in the uterus increases the level of pain even further,” she said.

Young, who offers classes in both the northern and southern suburbs, said hypnotherapy techniques were taught while expectant mothers were fully conscious and aware in class, and then practised at home to help the mothers prepare for birth and to bond with their newborns.

Describing hypnobirthing as a philosophy of labour rather than a technique, she said although the method was not completely pain-free, it helped expectant mothers achieve easier, faster and more comfortable birth without unnecessary medical intervention such as painkillers.

“It’s about a mother and baby getting the best experience and this includes being relaxed and calm. When you are relaxed your body releases endorphins, which is the body’s natural relaxant. These endorphins, which are released at the onset of labour, help the birthing process as they act as a supplement to hormones that are specifically released to allow a woman to birth the baby easily,” said Young.

Hall believes that had she not used the hypnobirthing techniques during her second labour, she probably would have had a C-section.

“This time around I refused to be distracted by people telling me negative stories about birth. Somehow I was very involved with what was happening inside me and I wasn’t frightened of the birth. I had the attitude that I’d been there and done that, but I also accepted that it might not work. It gave me a sense of satisfaction about myself,” she said.

While the idea of hypnobirthing is largely supported by midwives, some doctors have also come out in support of it.

Dr Douglas Dumbrill, a gynaecologist at Vincent Pallotti Hospital is one of them.

Dumbrill, who works with several independent midwives, said he supported “any technique that makes labour manageable”.

“I haven’t seen many hypnobirthing clients personally as they mostly deal with the midwives I work with, but I know that many moms who engage in it are generally very happy about it. As a gynaecologist, I believe it should be a woman’s choice to choose birthing options that are suitable for them, and I think every woman in labour should have access to pain relief – be it hypnobirthing, acupuncture or water birthing.”

Dumbrill said with the shortage of staff and trained midwives in hospitals, any intervention that strived to make labour more manageable was welcome.

“Many of the mothers I deal with always feel they don’t get proper support in a hospital environment. So if using relaxing techniques makes their pain during labour more manageable, I don’t see a reason why we shouldn’t support that.

“Surely that goes a long way in easing the workload of midwives and other support staff.” - Cape Argus

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About Me

My name is Jodi Kluchar, and I live in Struthers, Ohio. I am currently a volunteer postpartum support group coordinator in Mahoning County, and webmaster of PTSD After Childbirth: www.ptsdafterchildbirth.orgI suffered from PTSD after the birth of my son. The most important piece of advice I have for you is that it’s important to talk about what happened, even though you may not want to. Try to find a counselor or someone you trust to help you work through your memories and how you feel about the birth. Read my birth story here.